There were a lot of positives heading into the Edmonton Elks Week 9 matchup with the BC Lions on Saturday, August 6. The Elks were coming off of a bye week and were well rested. The Elks Head coach Chris had two weeks to prepare a game plan for Nathan Rourke and the powerful Lions offense. And, key players were returning from the injured reserve list.
You had to think that the Elks would’ve been in a better position than they were going into Week 1 of the season when they got pasted 59-15 by the Lions. But no, not by a long shot. The Elks managed to let Rourke throw for 5 touchdowns and score one of his own on the ground while racking up 477 passing yards as the Lions cruised to a 46-14 victory.
The Elks now fall to 2-6 on the season, and return home on Saturday, August 13th for a match against the 4-4 Saskatchewan Roughriders. The Elks will be looking for their first home win in over a thousand days against the Riders. Needless to say, they’re going to need it to try and stay competitive in the CFL’s West Division. It’s becoming evidently clear that the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, BC Lions and Calgary Stampeders are the cream of the crop in the West and the CFL overall.
Edmonton Elks Searching for Positives
Watching the Elks get their butts handed to them at the hands of the Lions for the second time this season was difficult.
The only bright spot came early in the game when Elks Quarterback Taylor Cornelius tossed a 19-yard touchdown pass to Kenny Lawler, tying the game at 7-7 in the 1st Quarter. After that Rourke took over, while the BC defense stepped up and chased Cornelius all over the field for the remainder of the game. As the death march wore on in the fourth quarter, the only positive I could think of was this was the first game for the Lions and first win under new Chief Operating Officer, Duane Vienneau. Duane was a fixture in the Edmonton Sporting Community for many years serving as Executive Director for Edmonton’s Grey Cups in 2010 and 2018. Vienneau was also President of the Edmonton Rush of the National Lacrosse League. This victory for the Lions couldn’t have happened to a nicer, more deserving guy.
Looking Ahead at the Edmonton Elks Schedule
The Elks play at home against the Riders on Saturday the 13th, and then play back-to- back games against the Ottawa Redblacks on August 19th in Ottawa and back home in Commonwealth on Saturday, August 27th.
All three games are important but the home-and-home series against Ottawa will likely define the season. If the Elks are able to win 2 out of their next 3 games, they will have hope. Lose all 3 and you might as well start looking ahead to next season.
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6 Comments
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Absurdium
August 9, 2022 at 4:37 am
The “elks” are a joke.
As a life long ESKIMO fan going back to 1970, I am sickened, saddened and shagrinned that the flagship franchise of the CFL has fallen to 4th Reich political correctness.
Best home attendance to worst.
Best home record to worst.
I could go on but it’s anybody but Edmonton now.
Bring back the Eskimos!
elks suck.
D. Edward Bochon
August 9, 2022 at 12:26 pm
I too am a lifelong fan going back to around 1972. The name change was tough and its been a difficult stretch over the past couple of years. Reminds me of the Oilers decade of darkness in a way, but I’m hoping for football fans in Edmonton that we won’t have to wait as long as Oilers fans had to for the franchise to turn it around.
Absurdium
August 10, 2022 at 9:27 am
Tradition used to mean something in the CFL. Once an Eskimo ALWAYS an Eskimo! Selling the fans out to corporate p.c. pressure is a finger in the face of the fans and players for the last 72years and has forever tarnished this franchise. Very sad and very fascist too.
D. Edward Bochon
August 10, 2022 at 12:52 pm
I wish I had a good answer for you because you bring up some strong points. As frustrating as it’s been the past few years, deep down I’ll never give up wanting the best for the franchise.
David Tress
August 10, 2022 at 1:23 pm
Duran Carter looks washed up until they make him a receiver again. They should never have put him on defense; that’s asking too much of him. He was born to catch the football.
D. Edward Bochon
August 10, 2022 at 3:02 pm
I’m a Carter fan but not sure if he’d be as engaged if he was a full-time receiver, especially with Lawler and Walker needing/getting the ball so often. I also wonder about Canadian ratios, and how to best fit him into the lineup. Would a Canadian receiver have to come out? No doubt being a receiver is in Carter’s DNA. Just a thought – maybe there’s a chance he can do double duty in certain situations.